This paper considers a second-order consensus problem for multiagent systems with nonlinear dynamics and directed topologies where each agent is governed by both position and velocity consensus terms with a time-varying asymptotic velocity. To describe the system's ability for reaching consensus, a new concept about the generalized algebraic connectivity is defined for strongly connected networks and then extended to the strongly connected components of the directed network containing a spanning tree. Some sufficient conditions are derived for reaching second-order consensus in multiagent systems with nonlinear dynamics based on algebraic graph theory, matrix theory, and Lyapunov control approach. Finally, simulation examples are given to verify the theoretical analysis.

In this paper, a new filtering problem for sensor networks is investigated. A new type of distributed consensus filters is designed, where each sensor can communicate with the neighboring sensors, and filtering can be performed in a distributed way. In the pinning control approach, only a small fraction of sensors need to measure the target information, with which the whole network can be controlled. Furthermore, pinning observers are designed in the case that the sensor can only observe partial target information. Simulation results are given to verify the designed distributed consensus filters.

In this brief, distributed bipartite tracking consensus problem for linear multi-agent systems (MASs) in the presence of a single leader is investigated. Compared with some related works on this topic, the leader’s control inputs in the present MAS model are allowed to be nonzero and unknown to each follower. To guarantee bipartite tracking consensus, a new kind of distributed non-smooth protocols based on the relative state information of neighboring agents is proposed and analyzed. With the help of tools from Lyapunov stability theory and graph theory, it is shown that bipartite tracking consensus in the close-loop MAS can be achieved if, the gain matrix of protocol is suitably constructed and the control parameters of protocol are respectively larger than some positive quantities depending on global information of the considered MAS. To provide some efficient criteria for consensus seeking without involving any global information, some fully distributed protocols with adaptive control parameters are further designed and discussed. Finally, numerical simulations are given for illustration.

The economic dispatch problem is investigated in this paper for a class of smart grids subject to unknown communication uncertainties. Compared with existing works related to economic dispatch where the dispatch algorithms are carried out by a centralized controller, a new kind of distributed dispatch algorithms are developed to achieve optimal dispatch of electric power by appropriately sharing the load among different generating units while guaranteeing consensus among incremental costs. An adaptive weight-adjustment technique is suggested that enables the dispatch algorithms to choose the communication weights among neighboring generating units which yield consensus of incremental costs under both cases with or without capacity limitations. The achievement of such a consensus leads to optimal dispatch of electronic power and secures the system performance against unknown communication uncertainties. Meanwhile, it is proved that the power demand and supply of the considered smart grids will be kept in a balanced state during the dispatch process. The interesting issue of how to assign the power outputs among generating units to balance the power demand and supply of the considered smart grids is also addressed. Finally, the numerical results of several case studies have been provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

This paper addresses the finite-time bipartite consensus problem for multi-agent systems (MASs) on a directed signed network. Some properties for signed digraphs are first investigated and two nonlinear control protocols are then designed for first- and second-order MASs, respectively, where agents may be influenced by bounded disturbances. Particularly, for MASs with second-order dynamics, a new estimation technique is developed to estimate the settling time. Simulation results are finally presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control protocols.